Tie-tamping system and method of operating the same



Aug. 18, 1931.` c. s. WEYANDT '1,819,009

TIE TAMPING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME Original Filed June 1, 192B Patented Aug. 18, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CARL S. WEYANDT, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA Original application filed June i, 1928,

Serial No. 282,103, which is a division of Serial No. 85,245 led February 1, 1926, now Patent No. 1,680,311, dated August 14, 1928. Divided and this application Ailed December 3, 1929. Serial No. 411,235.

My invention relates to improvements in tie-tamping systems and methods of operating the same.

In accordance with my invention, in a tietamping system, a plurality oi tie-tampers are operated 1n phase from a source of alternating current, causing simultaneous impacts upon the tamping tools, whereby the simultaneous blows are more edective, under certain circumstances, than single blows or single blows occuring at diiierent times.

Further in accordance with my invention, under suitable circumstances, two or more tie-tampers are operated at the same frequency, or are caused to strike the tamping blow dis-simultaneously.

Further in accordance with my invention, a polyphase source of alternating current is utilized to supply a plurality of tie-tampers,

2o one or more of theV tie-tampers operated from one phase and one or more from another phase,ior which purpose means are provided for transferring one or mor-e tie-tampers from onephase to another of the polyphase source of current.

My invention, further, resides in the method and system as hereinafter` describedy and claimed.

This application is a division of my application Serial No. 282,103, led June 1, 1928, and relating to improvements in method of and apparatus Jfor operating electric motors, the latter directed to subject matter divided from my application Serial No. 85,245, led

85.Feb. 1, 1926 upon which Letters Patent N o.

1,680,311 were granted August 14, 1928.

For the purpose of illustrating my invention, a 'tie-tamping system embodying the same and which may be operated in accord- 0 ance with my improved method is shown in the drawings, in which Figure 1 is a schematic view oa tie-tamping system embodying the present improvement/S; Y .g

Fig. 2 is anenlarged elevational sectional view of a tie-tamper of the general type which may be used in the system in Fig. 1;

and

Fig. '3 is a schematic, plan View further .for phase being effective upon excitation thereof to imor impacts with the tamper bar 23.

illustrating the improved method of tietamping in accordance with my invention.

In Fig. 1 there are shown alternating current supply conductors 10, 11 and 12 delivering polyphase alternating current, for eX- ample, a two-phase current. The current A is delivered, for example, by conductors 10 and 11, and the current from phase B is delivered by conductors 11 and 12. In the case oi the usual two-phase current, the electromotive force waves oi the two phases are in quadrature.

Across conductors 10 and 11 is connected the primary of a. transformer 13 provided with two secondaries delivering current, respectively, to the laments 14 and 15 of thermionic valves, whose anodes or plates are indicated at 16 and 17. The valves are connected, respectively, in circuit with the windings 18 and 19, whose circuits are closed upon closure of switch 20. The windings 18 and 19 constitute electromagnetic means forming part of the tie-tamper 21 of the general type shown in Fig. 2, these windingsV part oscillatory or reciprocatory movement to the power element or core 22 which strikes The tamper bar 23 operates upon the ballast or broken stone 24 to drive the same into place, and particularly to tamp it under the railway tie 25. A second tie-tamper 26, similar in construction and principle of operation to tie-tamper 21 and controlled by switch 27,

may be connected in parallel with tie-tamper 21 by closure of switch 28. rThe tie-tamper' 26 will then be supplied through the same valves supplying tie-tamper 21, whereby the tamping bars or tools 23 and 29 are simultaneously struck by their respective associated power elements or cores 22. Switch 28 may connect tie-tamper 26 to phase A through a valve system separate and independent from "the valve system supplying tie-tamper 21. This operation of the tamping bars 23 and 29 at the same instantsy is of advantage for the reason that the broken stone or ballast is more readily and eiiectively compacted and forced into position under. the tie.. This is particularly true when` ien the two tie-tampers are used on opposite sides and at the same end of the tie.

If it is desired that the tie-tampers operate out of phase with each other, but at the same frequency, switch 2S is opened and tietamper 26 connected to phase B through switch 30 and the valve system indicated generally by reference nume-ral 3l. In this case, the tamper bars 23 and 29 will be struck the same number of' times per unit of time, but at different instants. Suitable interconnecting means may be provided between switches 28 and 30 to prevent their simultaneous closure.

In Fig., 3, the tie-tampers 2l and 26 are more clearly shown as operating at the same end of tie 25 and on opposite sides thereof. As explained, the tamper bars 23 and 29 ope-rate either simultaneously or dis-simultaneously, depend-ing upon whether switch 28 isl lclosed and switch 30v open, or switch 28 open and switch SO closed. Simultaneously with operation of tie-tampers 2l and 26, similar tie-tampers 32 and 33 may be operated at the other end of the tie on opposite sides thereof, the connection for these tie-tainpers providing for either simultaneous or dis-simultaneous actuation of the associated tamper bars and 35.

From the foregoing it will be obvious that tieftampers 2l and 32 on the same side of the tie and at opposite ends or at different positions longitudinally thereof, may be connected to the supply source in such wise as to cause either simultaneous or dis-simultaneous. actuation of their respective tamper bars 23 and 34.

Further, tie-tampers such as 2,6` and 32 on opposite` sides of the tie and at different positions longitudinally thereof, may be connected tothe supply source in such wise as to cause either simultaneously or dis-simultaneous actuation of their respective tamper bars 29 and 84.

It will be apparent that the tie-tamper structure may take different form than herein illustrated. For example, the movable core or armature member may partake of movement about a pivotal position in response to excitation of the electromagnetic means or windings 18 and 19, instead of guided rectilinear alternate movement. Furthermore,

it is not essential that the armature member or core move freely to effect impact or percussion.. That is., the tamper bar may be directly connected to the armature, to act as a continuous load on the latter.

The invention claimed is:

I. In a tie-tamping system comprising a. source of alternating current, a pair of tietampers each comprising a magnetizable reci-procating element,l a tamping tool adapted to be. struck thereby, and field-producing structure for effecting reciprocation of said element, the methodv of tamping ballast for ties and the like, which comprises relating the iiel-d-producing structures of the tampers to said source so that the reciprocating elements thereof move in phase with each other, and tamping the ballast adjacent one side of a tie at different positions longitudinally thereof by simultaneous blows of the tampingtools.

2. In a tie-tamping system comprising a pluralityr of sources of alternating current differing in phase but of the same frequency, a plurality of' tie-tampers each` comprising a magnetizable reciprocating element, a tamping tool adapted to be struck thereby', and field-producing Structure for effecting reciprocation of said element, the method of tamping ballast for ties and the like which comprises relating said field-producing str-uctures to the different sources so that the corresponding reciprocating elements move out ofphase with each other, and tamping sai-d ballast at opposite sides of a tie by dis-simultaneous blows ofl said tamping tools.

3.- In a tie-tamping system comprising a plurality of sources of alternating current differing in phase but of the same frequency, a plurality of tie-tampers each comprising a. magnetizable reciprocating element, a tamping tool adapted to be struck thereby, and field-producing structure for effectingreciprocation of said element, the method of tamping ballast for ties and the like which Vcomprises relating said field-producing structures to the differentl sources so that the cor-j w responding reciprocating elements move out of phase with each other, and' tampin-g said ballast at different positions longitudinally ofthe tie by dis-simultaneous blows of said tamping. tools.

4,.A A-tie-tamping system comprising a plu-4 rality of tie-tampers each having a power element disposed for oscillatory movement and electromagnetic means effective upon excitation thereof to impart such movement toA the associated element, means providing an source of spaced electrical impulses, and switch means providing for connection of each of said tie-tampers tosaid second-named means in such wise as to subject the electromagnetic means of each of said tie-tampers to the same number of such impulses per unit of time.

5. A tie-tampin-gsystem comprising a plurality of tie-tampers each havingv powerm element disposed for oscillatory movement and electromagnetic means; eifective upon excitation thereof to impart suchl movement to thev associated element, means providing a source of spaced electrical impulses, and switch means provi-ding for connection of each of said tie-tampersto said second-named means in such wise as to subject the electromagnetic means of each of said tie-tampers to simultaneously occurring electrical impulses.,

'6. In a tie-tamping system, a polyphase source of current, a plurality of tie-tampers each including a reciprocating motor comprising a reciprocating core system and electromagnetic actuating means therefor, and switching mechanism for bringing the electromagnetic actuating means of said motors into common association either with one phase or different phases of said source.

7 A tie-tamping system comprising a source of .alternating current, a plurality of tie-tampers each including a reciprocating motor comprising a reciprocating core system and electromagnetic actuating means therefor, one of said motors connected to said source of alternating current, and switching means for connecting the corresponding energizing portions of the electromagnetic actuating means of said motors in parallel with each other to cause their reciprocating core systems to move in phase with each other.

8. In a tie-tamping system, a polyphase source of current, a plurality of tie-tampers each including a reciprocating motor comprising a reciprocating core system and electromagnetic actuating means therefor, and switching mechanism for bringing the electromagnetic actuating means of each of said motors either into parallel relation with each other for energization from one phase, or into independent association with different phases of said polyphase source of current.

9. In a tie-tamping system, a polyphase source of current, a plurality of tie-tampers each including a reciprocating motor comprising a reciprocating core system and electromagnetic actuating means therefor, and switching mechanism for bringing corresponding electromagnetic actuating means of each of said motors either into parallel relation with each other for energization from one phase to cause their respective reciprocating core systems to move in phase with each other, or into independent association with different phases of said polyphase source of current to cause said core systems to reciprocate at the same frequency and to deliver blows dis-simultaneously.

10. A tie-tamping system comprising a source of alternating current, a plurality of tie-tampers each including a reciprocating motor comprising a reciprocating core system and electromagnetic actuating means therefor, asymmetrical conductors connected between said motors and source of alternating current, and means for relating the electromagnetic means of the motors to said asymmetrical conductors to cause the respective reciprocating core system to move in phase with each other.

11. A tie-tamping system comprising a plurality of tie-tampers each having a power element disposed for oscillatory movement, and means common with respect to said tietampers for effecting such movement of the power element associated with any one of said tie-tampers synchronously with such movement of the respective elements associated with the remaining tie-tampers.

12. A tie-tamping system comprising a source of alternating current, a plurality of tie-tampers each ,having a reciprocating armature system for operating tamping structure and electro-magnetic actuating means, and switching mechanism for connecting the electro-magnetic actuating means of said motors to said source and selectively operable to e'ect movement of their tamping structures out of phase with each other or in phase with each other.

13. A tie-tamping system comprising a source of atlernating current, at least two rectiiier systems, a plurality of tie-tampers each having a reciprocating armature system for operating tamping structure and electro-magnetic actuating means, and switching mechanism selectively operable to connect the electro-magnetic actuating means of at least one of said motors to one or another of said rectifier systems to attain simultaneous or dissimultaneous blows of said tamping structures.

14. A tie-tamping system comprising a source of polyphase alternating current, a tie tamper comprising a reciprocating armature system for operating tamping structure and electro magnetic actuating means, and switching mechanism operable to select the phase of said current source to which said electro-magnetic actuating means is con nected.

CARL S. WEYANDT. 

